Meet our Team
Our team has a demonstrated history of successful collaboration with communities, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, governments, international organizations, multilateral development banks, academic institutions, and the private sector worldwide.
Dr. Janis Shandro, Corporate Director/Owner
Janis holds a co-disciplined PhD in mining engineering and population health and is the founding Director of Arrowsmith Gold Inc. Janis is a recognized global leader in the field of community health and safety management and Health Impact Assessment as it relates to mega-projects, emergency scenarios and incidents. She is a trusted advisor and consultant to various international finance institutions and organizations, governments, public mining and oil and gas companies and Indigenous communities. With direct project experience in 30 countries, Janis leads: AGI’s international health and social performance practice, assessments and management of community health and safety risks, corporate and executive training, and project/corporate due diligence reviews.
Dr. Laura Jokinen, Deputy Director
Laura combines two decades of population health expertise with a passion for evidence-based solutions to complex health challenges. As Deputy Director, she leads initiatives that drive meaningful change for healthy individuals and communities.
Her research portfolio includes nationally-funded studies examining how industrial development affects Indigenous community health, alongside extensive work with vulnerable populations. Laura has collaborated with more than 30 Indigenous communities across Canada on health and safety initiatives, including establishing comprehensive health baselines and developing and implementing two of the longest-running social determinants of health monitoring programs in Canada associated with industrial development.
In the corporate sector, Laura provides a unique health lens to ESG and social performance initiatives, helping organizations understand and address the community health risks and impacts of their operations. As a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) practitioner, she brings both academic rigour and practical expertise to her work and co-leads a new HIA microcredential course with Dr. Janis Shandro in partnership with the University of Victoria.
Laura holds an MSc in Health Science with a specialization in Mental Health and Substance Use, and a PhD in Human Health Geography.
Christa Meuter, Community Health Planning Advisor
Christa Meuter, K'amdmaxx, is a member of the Eagle Clan in the House of Sinna Xeet, representing the Gitga'at Nation on BC's North Coast. She has lived in her community of Hartley Bay for six years, engaging in cultural traditions and harvesting in the territory.
A registered nurse and Chronic Disease Nurse Educator with extensive patient care experience, Christa recently completed a Masters Certificate in Indigenous Public Health from UBC's Faculty of Medicine.
As the past Health Director for Gitga'at First Nation, she worked with Provincial Health Authorities, First Nations Health Authority, and BC Ministry of Health to develop health programs for her community. During this time, she co-developed and launched one of the largest Indigenous determinants of health monitoring programs in Canada, in response to extensive industrial development within her Nation's territory.
Currently a Senior Advisor for Northern Health Authority, Christa focuses on enhancing cultural safety and access to health services for Indigenous people. She brings her expertise to AGI initiatives, committed to improving Indigenous health and wellness through systemic change.
Bernie Elkins, Governance and Major Projects Advisor
As an Advisor for AGI, Bernie integrates Indigenous perspectives with Western science to address complex community issues. Always committed to human capital and sustainable development by breathing life into Aboriginal rights so one can stand on their own feet. He has led Indigenous governance in provincial and federal environmental assessments and forged the transfer of Health Canada responsibilities to BC Indigenous communities.
Bernie has performed with a successful team in the only Supreme Court of Canada declaration to reconcile and transfer 1900 square kilometres of land to Tsilhqot’in Nation in British Columbia. He instituted how legal advisor retainers must balance benefits-risks of clients as well as who decides. Under the Coastal First Nations, he strengthened Indigenous fisheries jurisdiction within multiple Nations through difficult tri-partite marine planning. He also evaluated carbon credit offers, forged Coastal Guardian Watchmen enforcement, and sparked elected and hereditary leadership relations.
As Tsilhqot'in Chief of ?Esdilagh First Nation, Bernie led Canada's first Indigenous-led environmental impact study of an operating mine.
Danielle Lee, Principal, Health Projects and Programs
Danielle holds a Masters of Public Health (MPH) and brings extensive population health expertise to communities and corporate clients through evidence-based practice, participatory methodologies, and gender-based analysis. She assists organizations in identifying health risks related to industrial project activity, developing targeted mitigations, and assessing their effectiveness. Recent projects include social development planning for project-affected populations and emergency preparedness assessments for infrastructure projects, including large transportation developments.
Danielle also has extensive experience working in Indigenous communities, developing innovative health planning resources, such as 5-Year Health Plans, and supporting community-based health monitoring initiatives. Her community engagement experience spans diverse populations, including some of the most vulnerable people in society - those experiencing substance use issues, homelessness, and women and girls affected by violence.
Rory Maclean, Human Environment Specialist
Rory holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from Oxford University and a Master's degree from the University of British Columbia, focusing on connectivity and inter-community engagement in ancient societies. As a Communication Consultant, he specialized in synthesizing critical narratives from complex datasets, creating educational content and managing project accounts with clients and communities.
Now a Human Environment Specialist, Rory draws on his background in technical research and anthropology to analyze historical and current data, developing collaborative strategies that balance community needs with project objectives. With knowledge of the EA regulatory process, his current work includes supporting Indigenous-led risk assessments, co-authoring Environmental Assessment chapters for First Nations, and coordinating EA review materials for multiple projects simultaneously.
Dr. Rocky Lis, Principal, Wildlife Monitoring Programs
Rocky is a clinical veterinarian with over 15 years of experience in general and emergency practice. He possesses unique expertise that combines an extensive background in veterinary medicine with a Master's degree in Mining Engineering, and fieldwork as a wildlife biologist, both locally and internationally. Driven by a passion for 'One Health' initiatives, Rocky integrates human, animal, and environmental health in his work. His projects have included collaborating with Veterinarians Without Borders in Uganda and developing and piloting wildlife health monitoring programs in partnership with First Nations in Canada
Matt Jalink, Principal, Oncology Projects
Matt Jalink is a PhD candidate in epidemiology at Queen’s University studying the impacts of cancer treatment delay on patient survival in both high- and low-income country settings. Matt’s passion for tackling the challenges of healthcare access and achieving value in cancer care has allowed him to work with international cancer and global health organizations in Canada, New Zealand, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka on a multitude of cancer and health system projects and programs. While living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, he worked as an epidemiologist and project officer with the Aga Khan Health Services coordinating a successful 15-million-euro grant aimed at strengthening cancer care across Tanzania. He has published 20+ research articles in several high-impact journals including the BMJ and Lancet Oncology. Matt’s career interests lie at the intersection of epidemiology, non-communicable diseases, and global health. Specifically, he is interested in cancer control and systems in humanitarian contexts.
Dr. Pyi Pyi Phyo, Senior Public Health Advisor
Dr. Phyo is a Medical Doctor and public health expert pursuing a PhD in Population Health at the University of Auckland. She holds a medical degree from Myanmar and a Master of Public Health (International) from the University of Leeds, UK.
With 15 years of global health experience, Pyi Pyi specializes in HIV prevention, drug addiction, tobacco control, nutrition promotion, and managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across diverse communities, including Indigenous populations. She has collaborated with community organizations, NGOs, WHO regional offices in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe, and the Asian Development Bank to design and implement disease prevention and control initiatives.
Hannah Horrell, Population Health Specialist
Hannah is a dedicated health professional, specializing in maternal health and issues experienced by aging populations. She holds a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Liverpool and completed her Research Masters Degree at Liverpool’s Women’s Hospital, which is a prominent obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology research facility.
As part of the AGI team, Hannah applies her strong quantitative data analysis skills to projects and collaborates closely with communities to develop evidence-based strategies promoting positive health outcomes. Her commitment to improving health equity is rooted in her passion for enhancing well-being and quality of life across diverse demographics.
Rachel Ross, Population Health Specialist
Rachel holds a Joint Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and Psychology with a Minor in Gender and Social Justice from the University of Waterloo. Through an intersectional and anti-colonial lens, she focused her work on housing and food security in rural and remote communities.
At Waterloo, she led health resource initiatives for unhoused community members and partnered with Indigenous leaders to organize cultural preservation events. Her international experience includes work in Guatemala City, supporting housing, employment, and healthcare access initiatives in Zone 3.
Based in London, UK, Rachel works in healthcare administration, focusing on addressing health disparities through systemic change. She brings this expertise to the AGI team to help identify and mitigate social, economic, and environmental factors affecting health outcomes.